Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Joonkook HWANG

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea

Security Council Briefing on Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine

New York, 30 October 2024                                                                                        

Thank you, Madam President.

I extend my gratitude to ASG Jenča for his briefing.

Today, we gather here in this august Council to address a grave and unprecedented development in Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine.

Even though we are all familiar with the DPRK’s illegal and immoral activities – whether WMD development in flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions, counterfeiting, money laundering, drug trafficking, cyber hacking, or systematic human rights abuses - the recent turn of events is indeed surprising even to long-time North Korea watchers like me.

Besides providing deadly munitions and ballistic missiles to Russia, the DPRK is now deploying thousands of its own troops to Russia disguised as Russian soldiers.

The Republic of Korea provided an early warning on the DPRK’s direct involvement in the war. We have repeatedly warned against the DPRK’s provision of military materials to Russia. And we also released detailed information on the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia.

Our repeated warnings and condemnations, however, have fallen on deaf ears of North Korea and Russia, who both completely denied their collusion until just recently. Now, they are acknowledging what they are doing by arguing that their activities “will be in conformity with regulations of international law.”

Their change of attitude, though belated and reluctant, implies that they are clearly aware that these activities are in fact illegal and unjust; otherwise, they would not have so strongly denied them in the first place.

Without clear evidence, they would have continued denying or shifting blame on us, as we have witnessed time and time again over the years.

Madam President,

Regardless of what is written on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang, signed in June this year, their military cooperation is totally illegal.

To begin with, supporting an act of aggression, which completely violates the principles of the UN Charter, is illegal.

In addition, Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2270 prohibit any transfer of weapons, ammunition, or related training, advice, services or assistance from and to the DPRK. Hosting of trainers, advisors, or other officials for military training purposes is also prohibited.

Taken together, any activities that are entailed with the DPRK’s dispatch of troops to Russia are clear violations of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions.

Madam President,

The deployment of DPRK troops to the frontline in Russia’s war against Ukraine could take place sooner than expected. This marks a dramatic escalation in the war.

According to some assessments, over 600,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the start of the war. The reality is that Russia needs more soldiers to feed its war machine. And we all know what will happen to these ill-fated North Korean soldiers once they are deployed to the deadly battlefield.

As legitimate military targets, they will end up as mere cannon fodder, while the wages they are supposed to receive from Russia
will end up squarely in Kim Jong-un’s pocket.

I do personally feel pity for these soldiers as a fellow Korean.

It is tragic that they could have enjoyed a far better life only if they were born south of the DMZ. Pyongyang’s treatment of its young soldiers, its own people, as expendable will be never forgiven.

Madam President,

With boots on the ground alongside the supply of munitions, the DPRK has become the most visible, ardent, and committed supporter of Russia’s aggression in Europe.

The deepening illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a serious threat to both Europe and Northeast Asia. Indeed, this unprecedented military support from Pyongyang to Moscow will change the dynamic of geopolitics on both East and West sides of the Eurasian Continent.

It will also have serious military and security impacts on the Korean Peninsula. By sending its troops to the battlefield, North Korea will gain combat experience of modern warfare for the first time since the Korean War.

The North Korean regime will naturally seek to exact a high payoff from Moscow. And such a quid pro quo will not be limited to such things as food or fuel, but may entail more sophisticated, high-end military technology, material, and equipment in support of Pyongyang’s military objectives.

In addition, Russian Foreign Minister recently asserted that North Korea's denuclearization is a “closed issue.”

If Russia abandons its long-held official position of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, it will undermine the very foundation of the NPT regime.  The consequences of losing the hard-earned non-proliferation regime will be felt by everyone, including Russia itself.

Russia already dissolved the 1718 Committee’s Panel of Experts to hide its own illegal activities. The subsequent acceleration of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang further endangers peace and stability in the wider region.

Madam President,

Russia must stop the unprovoked war, immediately withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in line with the UN Charter.

Russia’s desperate situation, revealed by bringing in foreign troops and munitions from the DPRK, is its own creation. A Permanent Member of the Security Council must at least stick to the bare minimum of international norms.

The Republic of Korea, in close cooperation with the international community, will respond resolutely to unlawful Russia-DPRK military cooperation, and will take corresponding measures, commensurate to ensuing developments.

Thank you, Madam President.         

# # #